Design And Construction Of A Password Based Circuit Breaker
The design and construction of a password-based circuit breaker involve the development of a security system that utilizes a predefined password to control the activation and deactivation of electrical circuits. This system typically comprises a microcontroller, such as an Arduino or Raspberry Pi, interfaced with a keypad for password entry and a relay module for switching the electrical load. Through programming, the microcontroller processes the input from the keypad, comparing it with the stored password. Upon successful authentication, the microcontroller triggers the relay to allow power flow through the circuit. Conversely, incorrect password attempts result in the circuit remaining deactivated. This implementation ensures security and control over electrical access, enhancing safety and preventing unauthorized usage. Additionally, the design may incorporate features such as multiple user support, password change functionality, and logging capabilities for further customization and security enhancement.
The circuit breaker is an absolutely essential device in the modern world, and one of the most important safety mechanisms in your home. Whenever electrical wiring in a building has too much current flowing through it, these simple machines cut the power until somebody can fix the problem. Without circuit breakers (or the alternative, fuses), household electricity would be impractical because of the potential for fires and other mayhem resulting from simple wiring problems and equipment failures.
This system uses a microcontroller and keypad to control and protect electric power. Keypad is used to enter the password. The password which is entered is compared with the predefined password. If entered password is correct then the corresponding electrical line is turned ON or OFF.
TITLE PAGE
APPROVAL PAGE
DEDICATION
ACKNOWELDGEMENT
ABSTRCT
TABLE OF CONTENT
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 AIM/OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
1.3 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
1.4 LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
1.5 APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT
1.6 PROJECT ORGANISATION
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE PROJECT
2.1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF CIRCUIT BREAKER
2.2 OPERATIONAL REVIEW CIRCUIT BREAKER
2.3 TYPES OF CIRCUIT BREAKERS
2.4 DESCRIPTION OF KEYPAD
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY
3.1 BLOCK DIAGRAM OF THE SYSTEM
3.2 CIRCUIT DIAGRAM
3.3 HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS
3.4 SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
3.5 PRINCIPLE OF PASSWORD BASED CIRCUIT BREAKER
3.6 PASSWORD BASED CIRCUIT BREAKER DESIGN
3.7 CIRCUIT DESCRIPTION
3.8 SYSTEM OPERATION
3.9 COMPONENTS LIST
3.10 DESCRIPTION OF MAJOR COMPONENTS USED
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULT ANALYSIS
4.1 CONSTRUCTION PROCEDURE AND TESTING
4.2 ASSEMBLING OF SECTIONS
4.3 CONSRUCTION OF THE CASING
4.4 TESTING
4.5 PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED
4.6 PRECAUTION
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 CONCLUSIONS
5.2 RECOMMENDATION
5.3 REFERENCES
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, electrical accidents to the line man are increasing, while repairing the electrical lines due to the lack of communication between the electrical substation and maintenance staff. This project gives a solution to this problem to ensure line man safety. In this proposed system the control (ON/OFF) of the electrical lines lies with line man.
This project is arranged in such a way that maintenance staff or line man has to enter the password to ON/OFF the electrical line. Now if there is any fault in electrical line then line man will switch off the power supply to the line by entering password and comfortably repair the electrical line, and after coming to the substation line man switch on the supply to the particular line by entering the password.
The main component in the circuit is 8051 microcontroller. In this project 4×3 keypad is used to enter the password. The password which is entered is compared with the predefined password. If entered password is correct then the corresponding electrical line is turned ON or OFF. In this project a separate password is provided to each electrical line. Activation and deactivation of the line (circuit breaker) is indicated by the load.
The project is designed to control a circuit breaker with help of a password. This proposed system provides a solution, which can ensure the safety of the maintenance staff. EXAMPLE: Line man. The control to turn ON/OFF the line lies with the line man only
This system has an arrangement such that a password is required to operate the circuit breaker (ON/OFF). Line man can turn off the supply and comfortably repair it, and return to the substation, then turn on the line by entering the correct password. The system is fully controlled by a microcontroller IC. If the password entered is correct, then only the line can be turned ON/OFF. Activation / deactivation of the circuit breaker is indicated by a lamp (ON/OFF).
1.1 OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
Circuit breaker is designed to protect an electrical circuit from damage caused by overload or short circuit. Its basic function is to detect a fault condition and interrupt current flow. It protects an individual household appliance up to large switchgear designed to protect high voltage circuits feeding an entire city. The main objective of this work is to design a device that can perform these functions using keypad instead of switch to control the ON or OFF of appliances
1.2 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PROJECT
• Avoids electrical accidents to line man
• Project is simple and easy
• Uses commonly available components
1.3 APPLICATION OF THE PROJECT
• Used in electrical substations to ensure line man safety
• This system is used in buildings and houses
• Used in hotels and shopping malls to save the power.
1.4 SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
The above circuit consists of 8051 series controller, 4×3 keypad, LCD, relays and two loads. LCD data pins are connected to PORT1 and control pins RS, RW, EN pins are connected P3.7, P3.6 and P3.5 respectively. Here LCD is used to display the information. Keypad is connected to PORT2 of the controller. Using this keypad we need to enter the password. Lamps are connected to P3.0 and P3.1 through the relays. These are used to indicate circuit breaker state. In this project we have used bc547 transistors to drive the relays. AC load should be connected to COM and NO (Normally open) pins. 5V relays are used to drive the AC loads.
1.5 LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
1. They are more expensive than fused switches
2. When a circuit breaker trips, you lose all power (with fuses you only lose that phase)
3. Harder to coordinate fault selectivity
4. Harder and more costly to obtain high short circuit interrupting capacities
1.6 PROJECT WORK ORGANISATION
The various stages involved in the development of this project have been properly put into five chapters to enhance comprehensive and concise reading. In this project thesis, the project is organized sequentially as follows:
Chapter one of this work is on the introduction to a password circuit breaker. In this chapter, the background, significance, objective limitation and problem of a password circuit breaker were discussed.
Chapter two is on literature review of a password circuit breaker. In this chapter, all the literature pertaining to this work was reviewed.
Chapter three is on design methodology. In this chapter all the method involved during the design and construction were discussed.
Chapter four is on testing analysis. All testing that result accurate functionality was analyzed.
Chapter five is on conclusion, recommendation and references.
Password-based circuit breaker:
A password-based circuit breaker is a security mechanism that uses a password or authentication process to control access to a circuit or system. The purpose is to prevent unauthorized users from accessing or manipulating electrical circuits, machinery, or electronic systems. This concept is commonly applied in various contexts, such as home automation, industrial control systems, or any scenario where restricting access to a circuit is necessary.
Here’s a basic overview of how a password-based circuit breaker might work:
- Authentication: Users need to provide a valid password or authentication token to gain access to the circuit. This can be achieved through various means, such as keypad entry, RFID cards, biometric authentication, or other secure methods.
- Control Unit: There is a control unit responsible for processing the authentication information. This unit is typically a microcontroller or a dedicated circuit that compares the provided password or authentication token with the stored valid credentials.
- Password Storage: The system stores valid passwords or authentication information securely. It’s crucial to implement strong encryption and hashing techniques to protect this data from unauthorized access.
- Circuit Control: If the authentication is successful, the circuit breaker allows normal operation. If authentication fails or if an incorrect password is entered a certain number of times, the circuit breaker trips, preventing further access to the circuit.
- Reset Mechanism: To reset the circuit breaker, there may be a manual or automated reset mechanism. For example, an authorized user might need to enter a master password or perform a specific action to reset the system.
- Logging and Monitoring: Implement logging and monitoring features to keep track of authentication attempts, successful accesses, and any suspicious activities. This information can be useful for security audits and troubleshooting.
Keep in mind that security is a complex topic, and the effectiveness of a password-based circuit breaker depends on the implementation’s robustness. It’s essential to follow best practices for secure coding, use encryption to protect sensitive data, and regularly update the system to address potential vulnerabilities.
Additionally, for critical systems, it’s advisable to consult with security professionals and consider additional security measures beyond just password-based authentication to enhance overall system security.